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| Georgia Phi History |
Pledge Sunday
Pledges and brothers gather on the front steps of the Georgia Phi house on Pledge Sunday, September 29, 1963. |
Shortly after the Georgia School of Technology was founded in 1888, George Freeman, younger brother of Henry and Davis Freeman, both SAEs at Georgia Beta (University of Georgia), entered the Atlanta school. Young Freeman had experienced the SAE spirit through his brothers and was as anxious to be an SAE as his brothers were to have him. Davis Freeman wrote to John D. Mell urging that the fraternity establish a chapter at the technological school. The correspondence was given to Bryan C. Collier to conduct and he carried it on with George Freeman. Encouraged by his brothers, and by the Georgia Beta men, Freeman industriously worked on building a local that would be worthy of a charter. It was upon his work that the National Convention in 1889 in Charlotte based its grant of a charter. Collier went to Atlanta and on March 8th, 1889 at the Kimball House, initiated George Freeman, James W. Bridge, and Gilham H. Morrow making the chapter SAE's 59th.
 
"Check"
Many fond stories are still told about "Check", longtime Georgia Phi houseboy, shown here grabbing a snack (above), and with the brothers (below). |
He was assisted in the initiation by four Atlanta alumni of Georgia Beta: Piromis H. Bell, Wilmer L. Moore, Benjamin H. Thompson, and J. M. Mitchell, and Py Young W. Jones, of Georgia Psi. Within a few days after William R. Harper, Rogers W. Davis, Edwin D. Sheffield, George L. Pratt, Edmund F. Jackson, and William M. Draper were initiated.
The early days of the chapter were not always filled with prosperity, and the story of its efforts will be found interesting in later chapters; but it survived its troubles and became a staunch, strong chapter, of great service to SAE.
The chapter for a while was known as Georgia Tau, but it soon had the Tau changed to Phi. It is the only chapter in the fraternity (as of 1911) which has given it two Eminent Supreme Archons, both Floyd Charles Furlow and G. Hendree Harrison being Georgia Phi men. Harrison also served a term as Eminent Supreme Treasurer. Nor were these two the only Georgia Phi men who have served on the Supreme Council, for Charles Frederick Stone, Eminent Supreme Treasurer, is another contribution of the chapter to the national fraternity. Harrison, Furlow and J. Adger Stewart have each served Gamma province as president.
1970 Sweetheart Ceremony
The Georgia Phi Sweetheart of 1970 is crowned in the basement of the Georgia Phi house. |
It will be remembered that the Charlotte convention, on motion of Bryan C. Collier, had granted a charter for the Georgia School of Technology.
Over the years the city of Atlanta grew, and the Georgia School of Technology became Georgia Institute of Technology, but Sigma Alpha Epsilon remained constant. The Chapter has a rich legacy, built by men like the famous golfer, Bobby Jones and the mayor of Atlanta, Ivan Allen Jr. Although Georgia Phi had a period of inactivity between 2000 and 2004, it has now re-formed and is as strong as ever.
Adapted from History of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, Volume II by William C. Levere. Adaptations done by Charles P. Boyd. |
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